Dhaka, Jul 17 (UNB) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said the government has a plan to introduce electric and high-speed trains in the country to make the railway services better and faster.

"We’ve a plan to generate more electricity as we’re now producing 22,000MW…we’ll be able to introduce electric trains in near future…we’ll set up rail lines for remote areas as well to introduce speedy trains for easier communications," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating ‘Benapole Express’ for plying between capital Dhaka and Benapole, and the extension service of Dhaka-Rajshahi nonstop intercity ‘Bonolata Express’ train to Chapainawabganj.

When the Awami League government came to power, she said, it inherited only 1,600 MW of electricity generation capacity, but it now jumped to 22,000MW.

Hasina mentioned that with the introduction of electric and speedy trains, goods transports will be easier and faster creating opportunities for enhanced business and trade.

"The economy will get stronger…we’ll be able to establish poverty- and hunger-free Golden Bangladesh as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and for what the freedom fighters fought and laid down their lives," she said.

The Prime Minister mentioned that the current distance between Dhaka and Benapole by railway is much longer -- 385 kilometres.  

"There’s good news! On completion of the Padma Bridge, we’ll set up Bhanga as a railway junction…we’ll link Jashore with Faridpur, and then there’ll be no problem to go to Benapole through that route. The distance will get reduced by 180 kilometres while the journey time by 4-5 hours. Anyone will be able to travel to Benapole from Dhaka at the minimum time," she said. 

In this regard, she asked the authorities concerned to recruit necessary manpower to the railway and provide modern training to make its staff capable of operating such modern trains.

“Such steps will strengthen both the railway communications and the national economy fulfilling the desire of establishing a prosperous Bangladesh,” she said.

The prime minister thanked the Asian Development Bank for always supporting Bangladesh in developing its railway sector.

Hasina said trains can carry a greater number of passengers and goods at lower cost which is very much important for a densely populated country like Bangladesh.

"But it’s regretful that during the BNP regime they had wanted to close this sector. After returning to power, we created a separate ministry for the railway sector and made separate allocation in the national budget so that they could provide services to people," she said.

Terming communications as very important for development, Hasina said the aim of her government is to take communications services closer to mass people.

For that, she said, the government is improving the services on roads, airways, waterways and rail communications gradually.

About the new trains, the prime minister said, these are the gifts of her government for the people of Rajshahi and Khulna Division ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.

Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan and ADB Country Director Manmohan Parkash also spoke on the occasion. Railways Secretary Mofazzal Hossain highlighted various achievements of the railway through a power-point presentation.

A video documentary was also screened at that time on the development of Bangladesh Railway.

Later, the Prime Minister also exchanged views with government officials, businessmen and beneficiaries at Benapole and Chapainowabganj ends through the videoconference.

Dhaka, July 17 (UNB) - Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Minister Md Tajul Islam on Wednesday said the Deputy Commissioners have been asked to take effective measures to prevent the spread of dengue.

“An anti-mosquito drive will be conducted from July 25 to July 31,” he told reporters after attending the second sessions on the fourth day of the Deputy Commissioners’ Conference at the Secretariat.

Replying to a question about the ineffectiveness of mosquito medicine, Tajul said the city corporations will collect samples of mosquito kit and retest it.

“A certificate is being taken from the World Health Organisation for the medicine used to prevent the spread of mosquito. We’ve sprayed medicine approved by the WHO,” he said.

The number of dengue patients has increased this year.

Earlier this month, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said the hospitals have received many dengue patients and are treating them.

Dengue, a mosquito-borne viral infection, is spread to people through the bite of infected Aedes species mosquitoes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 100 million people get sick from infection, and 22,000 die from severe dengue.

Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sayeed Khokon said the medicines they are using to kill the mosquitos are “slightly less effective” but assured that the situation “is under control”.

There is no specific treatment for dengue or severe dengue, but early detection and access to proper medical care lowers fatality rates below 1 percent, the WHO says.

Dhaka, July 17 (UNB) – A group of students of Dhaka University blocked the key Shahbagh intersection on Wednesday demanding an end to the university’s affiliation with seven colleges.

Mostakim Ahmed, one of leaders of the demonstrators, said they are demanding ending the affiliation as DU “does not have the capability to bear the burden of seven colleges”.

About 300 students, under the banner of general students, took to the street around noon, halting vehicular movement on the busy road.

Traffic movement from New Market to Matshya Bhaban and Shahbagh to Farmgate remained suspended due to the blockade, causing immense sufferings to the commuters.

The DU students demanded the authorities to accede to their four-point demand that include publishing results within two months of the exam, and banning mass-transport on the campus.

The affiliated colleges are Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Women's College, Mirpur Government Bangla College and Government Titumir College.

Dhaka, July 17 (UNB) – Bangladesh Army chief General Aziz Ahmed on Wednesday said the armed forces are ready to help if the flood situation worsens.

He made the remark while replying to a question at the end of the first session of the fourth day of Deputy Commissioners’ conference at the Secretariat.

General Aziz said they have informed everyone that the Army, the Navy and the Air Force are ready to help, if needed.

The flood situation has been worsening in a number of districts across the country in recent days. Rising water has cut off road communications and stranded hundreds of thousands of people. It has also led to a shortage of food and drinking water and causing water-borne diseases.

Dhaka, Jul 17 (UNB) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday inaugurated ‘Benapole Express’, an intercity train that will plying between capital Dhaka and Benapole.

She flagged off the new train through a videoconference from her official residence Ganobhaban.

The Benapole Express, having 896 seats in 12 compartments, will have stopovers in Ishwardi, Jashore and Dhaka Airport stations.

The train will leave Benapole at 11.30am and reach Dhaka at 7pm. On the other hand, it will depart Dhaka for Beanpole at 12.30am and reach the destination at 8 am.

The ticket price for the train has been fixed at Tk 534 for Shovan chair, Tk 1,013 for Snigdha, Tk 1,213 for airconditioned seats each and Tk 1,869 for airconditioned berth. Its coaches have been procured from Indonesia.

People will be able to avail themselves of the train service during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.

The train will reduce the existing travel time by one hour and 15 minutes, helping the Bangladesh Railway earn Tk 34 crore annually.

From the programme, the Prime Minister also inaugurated the extension of Dhaka-Rajshahi nonstop intercity ‘Bonolata Express’ train service to Chapainawabganj. Earlier, Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the service on April 25.

Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan and ADB Country Director Manmohan Parkash were also present at Ganobhaban.